Loose-sheet binder



s. SMILEY JR Loosi: snag? BINDER Filed March, 14 1923' i r m nllllllll 1H lllllll Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL SMILEY, JR, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T GLOBE-WERNICKE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATL'OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

moss-sauna: 311mm.

Application filed March 14, 1923. Serial No. 825,108.

of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates generally to loose sheet filin or temporary-binder devices and particular y to the bendable prong type, in which the prongs are fixed to a suitable base and for securing the sheets, which prongs are engaged through the apertures in the sheets with the end portions thereof projecting beyond the bound sheets, and bent at an angle upon the sheets.

ne of the objects of the invention is to provide a plate cleat for reinforcing the body portion of a bendable prong binder element and for substantially securing the binder element to a flexible paper board base as to a leaf of a folder.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' vide means for preventing wear or puncture of the folder materia due to frequent bending of the sheet-attac ing tangs or prongs to. clasp the sheets; after they have been bound, this object being accomplished by passin the bendable tangs or prongs from one si e of the base or folder leaf through the folder .leaf and through a cleat on the opposite side of the folder leaf or base, whereby any friction at the bending points of the prongs between such points and the folder material is prevented.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is an inner face view of the open folder or cover showing a preferred form of reinforcing member or cleat and sheet binder element.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail plan of structure of Figure 1, a portion of the up er reinforcing member and folder sheet bemg broken away to show the body or connecting portion of the bendable prongs. 60 Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figu 2 showing the manner of interlocking the elements.

Figure 4 is a section similar to, Fig. 3,

showing a device in use, a follower or clamping plate being engaged with the upper sheet of the pile.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form. I

Figure 6 is a section on line (i -6 of Fi re 5. I

igure 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of sheet retaining ele ment. v Figure 8 is .a detail end view showing the prong retaining device.

The binder comprises two elements attached in opposition to one another at relatively opposlte sides of a base -1, the base being in the form of a folder or cover for enclosing and protecting the bound sheets. The bendable binder and base reinforcing cleat elements are preferably formed from sheet metal and are respectively designated b the numerals 2, 3. The bendable binder element 2 comprises a strip of metal formed with an elongated rectangular body portion having spacedopenings 4 for the reception of suitable fastening means, such as rivets or eyelets for securing the parts of the device to the cover or folder leaf, and prongs or tangs 5 extending from the opposite ends of the body portion, of less width than the body portion, said tan s adapted to be passed through the paper an through openings in a cleat element 3. The element 3 is also of elongated rectangular configuration, is of greater length than the body'portion of the element 2, and has therein openings 4 spaced to correspond to the openings 4 of the element 2. Transverse openings in-the form of elongated slots 7 are provided at relatively opposite ends of the element adjacent said openin 4 and between the ends thereof and sa1d openings. In attaching the device, the element 2 is placed at one side of the base, and its pron s, preferably bent at a right angle to the ody (portion, are passed throu h the base or fol er leaf. The slots 7 of tile element 3 are then each engaged over 7 a respective upstanding prong'and the ele- 10o ments slid to contact the base on the side I 1 thereof opposite that of the element 2, after which the rivets are passed through the registering openings 4 and 4 and turned to fasten the elements securely together. With the tangs passing through a metal reinforcing plate or cleat,.subsequent frequent bending of said tangs, when placing the sheets or removing the same, will not tear the folder sheet, such wear being, in this,instance, against the sides of the slots 7.

As shown in Fig. .4, the record or correspondence sheets 10 are preferably provsided with openings 11 adapting the sheets to be conveniently engaged over the prongs when said prongs are in upstanding position. A follower or clamp element 12, preferably of metal, having suitable prong receiving openings therein clampingly sustains the papers, the tangs traversing the openings in the follower element and being bent outwardly and downwardly thereagainst. The extremities of the prongs may be retained by transverse prong holding devices, indicated at 15, beneath which the ends of the prongs are finally inserted.

In the form of device shown in'Figures 5 and 6, the tangs of the element 2 do not traverse the folder sheet or companion element 3, "the element 2 being placed at the inner side of the sheet and the element 3 at the outer side. The ends of the element 3 project outwardly beyond the bends 16 of the prongs and act as a backing for the material of the folder, when said prongs are bent downwardly, supporting the paper at these points and preventing undue wearing or tearing of the same. The elements are secured by rivets or other suitable devices in a manner similar to that heretofore -described.

In Figure 7 the element 2 is formed from a narrow strip of single dimensioned width cut to the desired length with a portion of the opposite ends providing the prongs or tangs 5 preferably pointed, and the intermediate portion is provided with spaced openings 4 for registration with the openings 4 of the cleat-element 3 the strip in providing the apertures or openings being spread or expanded. The element 3" is identical in form with the element 3 and the elements are preferably attached to the sheet as in the first form. By reinforcing the material of the folder or cover at each side about the points of attachment of the binder device, the life of the folder is materially increased. By passing the prongs of one element through the opposing element, the paper is further protected from injury when the prongs are bent back and forth as when attaching and detaching the sheets. material of the folder is also protected against undue injury by extending one element beyond the other to'back or reinforce the material of the cover adjacent the bending points of the tangs, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Having describedmy invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a foldable sheet, a tangcarrying member having the tangs thereof projected through the sheet, a second memher at the opposite side of the sheet and traversed by said tangs, and means for clampingly fastening said members to: gether. I

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with a foldable sheet, a tancarrying element having tangs bent at rig t angles thereto, a second element of eater length than said tang-carrying e ement placed in opposition to said tang-car element at the opposite side of said s eat, and means for clampingly fastening the elements together.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination with a sheet, members located upon opposite sides of said sheet, means for securing said members to each other, prongs carried by one of said members projecting at right angles thereto and adapted to traverse a plurality of sheets, a member with'openings spaced to receive said prongs and adapted to clamp a plurality of sheets to the first specified sheet and transverse rong retaining members on the last specified member.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a foldable sheet, a tangcarrying element having tangs bent at right angles thereto, a second element of ater length than said tang-carrying e ement placed in opposition thereto at the opposite side of said sheet with respective ends projecting beyond the corresponding ends of said tang-carrying element, and means for clam ingly fastening the elements together.

5. n a device of the class described, in combination with a foldable sheet, an element having integral tangs bent at right angles thereto, said tangs passed through said sheet, a second element having spaced transverse slots therein, said slots engaged over said tangs, said second element engaged against said sheets in opposition to said tang-carrying element, and means for securing said elements together.

6. In a device of the class described, in

combination with a foldable sheet, an'ele-v and inserted through said sheet, a second element having openings registerable with the points of said right angularly bent tangs, said second element adapted to be engaged over said tangs to lie at the opposite side of said sheet in opposition to said first-mentioned element, and means for clam ingly securing said elements together. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe & 11 a device of the class described, in my name, as attested by the two subscribcombination with a sheet, members on oping witnesses.

posite sides of said sheet, means for clamp- SAMUEL SMILEY, JR. 5 ing said members together, prongs carried ,Witneses:

by one of said members projecting at an ROBERT C. NEIS,

1m angle thereto. C. K. Kn'HAn'r. 

